AREA NEWS DIGEST

Written by Gothenburg Times
Friday, 21 March 2014 14:29

Taken from the news columns of area newspapers.

School creates program to certify students

COZAD—In an effort to meet student needs not being met in the traditional academic way at Cozad Schools, community and school officials have teamed up to create a program that helps students gain certifications for experiences and to make them more viable in the work market once graduated. One such certification program being offered is in the medical field. Eleven students have enrolled in the class which offers the Certified Nurses Assistant program. Community members and professionals are helping to supply funding and supplies for the program.—reported in the Tri-City Trib.

Participants brave temps for tank race

BROKEN BOW—The seventh annual Polar Bear Tank Race took place in frigid temperatures on March 1 with only 34 seconds between first and third place in the men’s division. The Repeaters won first with a winning time of one hour, nine minutes and 56 seconds, followed by Tank Scalawags then River Rats. In the women’s division, the team Beavers finished in a time of 1:20:32. Temperatures hovered around 0 degrees, with a light wind and periods of heavy snow, which made for a brisk morning braved by participants from 21 years of age to 70+ of all male, all female teams and couples teams. The event takes place each year to promote the Sandhills Journey Scenic Byway, Nebraska Highway 2.—reported in the Custer County Chief.

Ice training reinforces message to stay off ice

OGALLALA—Although the frozen surface of Big Mac appeared sturdy on Saturday, March 8, members of the Lake McConaughy Dive Rescue Team only had to walk out 100 feet and jump before falling through the ice. “This is the kind of ice that gets people in trouble,” Keystone-Lemoyne Fire Chief Ralph Moul said. On Saturday, 12 volunteer firefighters and dive team members participated in an ice rescue training program. The team was able to practice with equipment purchased the past year.—reported in the Keith County News.

Tom Osborne to speak at community banquet

CURTIS—The Curtis Memorial Community Center is hosting Dr. Tom Osborne, former U.S. Congressman and Nebraska football coach, at its annual banquet on June 6 to speak about the TeamMates Mentoring program. During the banquet, the Posthumous Character & Integrity Award and the Citizen of the Year award will be presented. A fund-raising auction will also be conducted following the program with proceeds to assist the Community Center and the local TeamMates chapter.—reported in the Frontier County Enterprise.

Self defense course draws record number

ARNOLD—Word had gotten around on what was taking place in Arnold recently as women and girls from several area communities took advantage of a free self defense course presented by Shawn Hebbert, Grant County Sheriff, and Wynn Weins, Deputy County Sheriff from Hooker County. Sixty-five women signed up for the class at the school gym to learn techniques that would give them the upper hand if they are ever attacked. The officers stated they had never had a class that large all at once and drew girls as young as seventh grade and women nearing age 60.—reported in the Arnold Sentinel.

Student-issued laptops one more step closer

CALLAWAY—It’s not a question if Callaway Public Schools will issue notebook or laptop computers to its junior and senior high students, it’s more like when. School tech guru Bob Keeney had stated in a previous meeting of the Board of Education that simply issuing computers to students was not enough. There has to be a system in place to integrate students, teachers and curriculum within both the classroom and without for shared goals and management. The missing piece of the puzzle has now become available, a software plan called Schoology. The program would be at the base of issuing 85 students new notebook computers.—reported in the Callaway Courier.

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